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  • Take Heart

    "Earth’s weary lovers are tired, perplexed, and battered from all directions. Their hearts have so often been broken. It’s hard to go on, but it is morally impossible to quit. How do Earth’s protectors find the heart to continue the struggle?" ~ Kathleen Dean Moore Kathleen Dean Moore's new book Take Heart: Encouragement for Earth's Weary Lovers, to be released June 14, 2022, promises to offer solace, inspiration and hope. To find out more attend a live on zoom book launch on on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 6 p.m. PDT. The event will feature an interview-style conversation between author Kathleen Dean Moore and the book's illustrator, Bob Haverluck, as well as music and book giveaways. Register Here. "We'll think together about how we might collect our thoughts, confront our dismay, obliterate our obstacles, gather our courage, summon our communities, and reclaim our laughter and joy for the work ahead." This book launch event is hosted by the Spring Creek Project and co-sponsored by OSU Press, Grass Roots Books & Music, OSU's Environmental Arts and Humanities Initiative, 350 Seattle, 350 Eugene, Corvallis Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Safina Center, the Post Carbon Institute, and McKenzie River Trust. University of Oregon's (Corvallis) Spring Creek Project "brings together the practical wisdom of environmental science, the clarity of philosophy, and the transformational power of the written word and the arts to envision and inspire just and joyous relations with the planet and with one another."

  • Eco-Ministry

    The Chaplaincy Institute, an interfaith seminary and community, based in Berkeley, CA, is offering a three-day, 1.5 credit hour elective class on Eco-Ministry on from Friday, June 10, 2022 at 9 a.m. through Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 5 p.m. "Bringing curiosity to our deepest ways of knowing, courageously questioning our lifestyle choices, and prophetically imagining a regenerative future is what The Chaplaincy Institute (Chi) calls Eco-Ministry. "In this 3-day course, participants will learn ancient and innovative, life-affirming and healing practices for Earth and the systems on which humans depend. In addition to presentations with subject-area experts, this course takes us outdoors to learn with Earth, and to local venues where new and indigenous practices are showing us the way forward. Art and Ritual are part of the daily experience, honoring our need for expression and integration at every level." "CHI was envisioned by clergy from a variety of faith traditions who saw a need for deeper Interfaith dialogue, and for building bridges of understanding across religious divides to bring peace and understanding to today’s world." Click here for more information or Register for Chaplaincy Institute Open Courses. The fee for the three day course on Eco-Ministry is $510.

  • Building a Weather-Ready Nation

    The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is presenting a webinar on Wednesday June 1, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PDT on Collaboration Opportunities Between the AMS and Spiritual/Faith-Based Organizations to Build a Weather-Ready Nation. The webinar aims to "bring together perspectives on the roles of spiritual/faith-based communities and organizations in building a Weather-Ready Nation, and identify opportunities to work together to strengthen community resilience from high-impact weather events." It is part of a Finding Common Ground Among Science, Spirituality, and Environmentalism Series co-sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light and Creation Justice Ministries to build a weather-ready nation. Presenter: Doug Hilderbrand, National Weather Service HQ Panelists: Dr. Carlos Javier Martinez, NCAR/AMS COSMOS Bruce Jones, Midland Radio Rev. Susan Hendershot, Interfaith Power and Light Director Marcus T. Coleman Jr., DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships The Q&A, chat file, anonymous survey results, and attendee list from this webinar will be shared with its organizers. "Spiritual and faith-based houses of worship are often places of safety, volunteerism, and crisis management during and after high-impact weather events (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, flash flooding). Hence, spiritual and faith-based communities can be an integral part of Building a Weather-Ready Nation."

  • SOCAN Monthly Meeting: Climate Justice 101

    The SOCAN Monthly General Meeting on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 6 p.m. will address Climate Justice 101. There is no charge for joining the ZOOM meeting, but registration is required: bit.ly/SOCANClimateJustice101 The May meeting will be dedicated to a discussion of the importance of understanding climate justice as we work to address the climate crisis. Presenters Rodrigo Narbona from the Northwest Justice Project and Virginia Camberos, Rogue Valley Regional Director of Unite Oregon will be joined by Unite Oregon Climate Justice Committee Speakers - Anahi Cervantes & Jose Antonio Bucio who will be sharing their stories. "Vulnerable communities across the globe, including in the United States, have long suffered disproportionately from environmental degradation that results from inconsiderate and irresponsible behaviors. No proposal addressing the climate crisis can be effective unless it also recognizes and redresses years of inequity. We cannot successfully remedy the climate crisis if our efforts maintain or heighten the social injustice that is already evident throughout our society."

  • A Livable Planet for Generations To Come

    On Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. PT join Bill Twist, co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance, in a 60-minute webinar conversation with Peter Fiekowsky, author of the new book Climate Restoration: The Only Future That Will Sustain the Human Race. RSVP for the WEBINAR "Peter Fiekowsky invites us to shed the talk of “mitigation” and “net-zero” and replace them with goals that will achieve what we want: "a livable planet for generations to come." Peter’s work is both inspiring and grounded in existing, feasible solutions available today that could drastically change the trajectory of climate chaos by 2050." "Peter is an MIT-educated physicist and engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a social innovator who has spent the last 30 years working to address global poverty and climate issues. He is the founder of the Foundation for Climate Restoration who unites the public, policy-makers, and technical and business experts behind the common goal of reversing global warming and restoring a healthy climate for future generations."

  • Drawing Down Carbon, Lifting Up Humanity

    Project Drawdown has a new report, Climate–Poverty Connections: Opportunities for Synergistic Solutions at the Intersection of Planetary and Human Well-being and is offering a two-part webinar to explain it in depth. "Panelists will share concrete evidence of how climate solutions can also help meet human well-being* needs and alleviate poverty in rural communities in Africa and South Asia." Part 1: Climate–Poverty Connections: Improving Agriculture and Agroforestry, Providing Clean Electricity, and Adopting Clean Cooking on Thursday, May 26, 2022 5 a.m. PDT "Global experts in international development, environmental health, clean energy, and natural resource management will discuss how climate solutions focused on improving agriculture and agroforestry, providing clean electricity, and adopting clean cooking can yield substantial socioeconomic, health, equity, and environmental gains." Register now Part 2: Climate–Poverty Connections: Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems and Fostering Equality on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 5 a.m. PDT "Global experts in cross-sectoral conservation and health initiatives, climate adaptation, girls’ education, and environmental conservation will focus on how climate solutions that protect and restore ecosystems and foster equality can lift people up while drawing down greenhouse gases." Register now "The analysis provides solid evidence for enormous direct and indirect human well-being* co-benefits and ripple effects arising from the 28 solutions in five climate solutions groups: Improving Agriculture and Agroforestry: Abandoned Farmland Restoration, Conservation Agriculture, Farm Irrigation Efficiency, Improved Rice Production, Multistrata Agroforestry, Nutrient Management, Reduced Food Waste, Regenerative Annual Cropping, Silvopasture, Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders, System of Rice Intensification, Tree Intercropping. Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems: Coastal Wetland Protection, Coastal Wetland Restoration, Forest Protection, Grassland Protection, Indigenous Peoples’ Forest Tenure, Peatland Protection and Rewetting, Temperate Forest Restoration, Tropical Forest Restoration. Adopting Clean Cooking: Biogas for Cooking, Improved Clean Cookstoves. Providing Clean Electricity: Distributed Solar Photovoltaics, Geothermal Power, Micro Wind Turbines, Microgrids, and Small Hydropower. Fostering Equality: Health and Education. *The 12 dimensions of human well-being used in the Drawdown Lift Human Well-Being Index are: Education, Energy, Food, Gender Equality, Health, Housing, Income and Work, Networks, Peace and Justice, Political Voice, Social Equity, and Water and Sanitation."

  • Universal: Pertaining to the Whole

    Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), based in Portland, "envisions communities of faith in ministry together creating a more peaceful, just, sustainable and compassionate world." They are "committed to bringing the faith community’s voice to the policy-making process at the Oregon Legislature, as well as advocating in communities statewide, to create systems, institutions and public policies that ensure a life of possibility for all Oregonians." "The Creation Justice programs of EMO activate congregations seeking to improve their practices of environmental stewardship and environmental and ecological justice. Our current projects include Oregon Interfaith Power & Light. Our mission is to love God’s Creation through education, relationships and advocacy." Sign up to receive EMO's monthly newsletter Creation Justice in Oregon. Check out the EMO Facebook page. In addition to creation justice, EMO also focuses on community service, advocacy/action, and education/dialogue on such issues as: peace & justice, racism, homelessness, emergency food program, immigration and refugee assistance, HIV assistance, vaccinations and more. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon as a tax-deductible, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

  • Moral Ground: Ethical Action For a Planet in Peril

    Solutions to the climate crisis are not found just in physics, science and logic; society and policy makers must become activated by ethics, morals, spirituality, a cosmic worldview, plus strong emotions of love, compassion, awe, wonder, humility, outrage, grief and courage - to overcome the greed and lies of powerful self interests. "Climate change is a moral challenge, not simply an economic or technological problem." ~ Kathleen Dean Moore Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael Nelson are editors of 87 inspiring essays in the 2010 book Moral Ground: Ethical Action For a Planet in Peril - diverse voices including Desmond Tutu, Gus Speth, the Dali Lama, E. O. Wilson, Barack Obama, John Paul II, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Thich Nhat Han, Bill McKibben, Thomas L. Friedman, Sallie McFague, Marcus J. Borg, Wendell Berry, Thomas Berry, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Brian Swimme, Terry Tempest Williams, Barbara Kingsolver, Paul Hawken and many more. The book is organized in 14 section with reasons for an answer "YES" to the question: "Do we have a moral obligation to take action to protect the future of a planet in peril?" for the survival of humankind for the sake of the children for the sake of the earth itself for the sake of all forms of life on the planet to honor our duties of gratitude and reciprocity for the full expression of human virtue because all flourishing is mutual for the stewardship of God's creation because compassion requires it because justice demands it because the world is beautiful because we love the world to honor and celebrate the Earth and Earth systems because our moral integrity requires us to do what is right Each section is followed by calls to Ethical Actions - How we can save the Earth; minimize human suffering throughout the world (particularly among the poorest and most vulnerable);; protect other species; repair fragile ecosystems; promote long-term prosperity, happiness and wellbeing; and transition into more equitable and sustainable economic systems." Find empowerment and firm moral ground to take necessary actions.

  • Climate Cafe Multifaith

    Climate Cafe MultiFaith is "an opportunity for faith leaders and clergy to get together to share experiences, and engage a discussion, with a short presentation & Q&A, around the subject of climate change, climate effects and climate solutions—hope! " Climate Cafe MultiFaith is held every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesday of the month, at 11:00 a.m. PDT. Together we can build a deeper understanding climate change, as well as learn together ways to respond within faith communities, and how a faith-led response could benefit the whole community. Climate Cafes started in Scotland in 2015. Check out their official page on the Climate Cafe Hub, an article featured in The Guardian about how Climate Cafes began, and also from Avocado Magazine. Email Richenda Fairhurst to be added for information on Faiths4Future Climate Cafe Multifaith upcoming gatherings. Find their archive here.

  • Designing Sustainable Futures

    "Designing Sustainable Futures (DSF) is a practice and a mindset that draws on the power of futures thinking, the creativity of design, and the capacity of collective leadership." On May 24, 2022 at 8 a.m. PT join a conversation about DSF with Institute For The Future's (IFTF) Joseph Press & Quinault Childs, hosted by Vanessa Mason. "Learn how DSF will enable you to strengthen your ability to and resilience for making an impact, regardless of what sector or industry you work in or what your background may be." NOTE: This is a public webinar. Anyone may join! But you must register: Registration is required here. Designing Sustainable Futures: Applying the Power of Design to Imagine and Transition to a more Sustainable World is also an eight-week intensive program to develop the skills and mindset of practitioners who are passionate about building a better world. This course, provided by Institute for the Future in collaboration with POLI.design, will run from October 7, 2022 – December 12, 2022 and costs $4,200. "Starting with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (see www.sdgs.un.org) with specific industry focus and a community focus, participants will explore and practice the essential skills of strategic foresight, world building, and transformation." "At the Center for Creative Leadership, Joseph Press collaborated and advised corporates, start-ups, and academia to help leaders face challenges and co-create solutions requiring innovation and necessitating transformation. To deepen the understanding of leadership, he led the founding of IDeaLs with the Politecnico di Milano. This an action-research community of over 10 global corporate partners investigates how to engage people with innovation and design to make transformation happen. Joseph is currently the Global Ecosystem Catalyst of FutureMakers, "a platform to bring together a global network of seasoned practitioners and academics to empower leaders in organizations to accelerate transformation into more sustainable and meaningful futures.:

  • Oregon Business and Industry Sues to Undermine Climate Action

    From: Alan Journet, Cofacilitator, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now "Oregonians should know and hold accountable those who joined the campaign to undermine the viability of our planet for future generations. If global warming and its climate change consequences continue unchecked, they are likely to destroy our natural ecosystem (forests, woodlands, grasslands, deserts, etc.) by the end of the century, along with our agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It’s difficult to imagine how the economic impact of this could be overestimated or ignored. Meanwhile, among those concerned about the economic impact of the climate crisis, none is more engaged than the insurance industry. Swiss Re, possibly the largest global reinsurance company, has assessed the potential economic cost of climate change. They estimated that warming of just 3.2⁰ Centigrade above pre-industrial conditions would globally cost over 18% of Gross Domestic Product (meaning over $15 trillion in current terms). Oregon’s share would be some $48 billion. Meanwhile, the global cost of keeping warming to 1.5⁰C would be about $1.8 trillion, less than 12% of the cost of inaction that would allow warming to continue unabated. Unfortunately, the Business As Usual global temperature is expected to warm over 4⁰C, much worse than the Swiss Re modeling. For years, climate activists have supported the Oregon legislative efforts to establish programs that would curtail greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon and contribute our share to addressing the climate crisis. These efforts have consistently been thwarted by Republican resistance, notably by their walking out of the chambers and the state to prevent bills from being enacted. They have justified this action with distortions about the economic consequences of the proposals. These distortions have been echoed by others who irrationally think the outcome of a continued climate crisis is less damaging and costly than addressing it. Following the 2020 Republican walk-out, Governor Brown signed Executive Order 20-04 charging state agencies with developing programs to establish reasonable emissions reduction and carbon dioxide sequestration trajectories. Notable among the agency efforts was that of the Department of Environmental Quality. In order to assure those potentially affected by a climate plan would have input, DEQ established a Rulemaking Advisory Committee composed of representatives of the major stakeholders including many members of the affected industries. Over many months, DEQ sought input from this committee as it developed its Climate Protection Plan (CPP). Throughout discussions, industry representatives claimed to be concerned about the climate crisis and contributed input to the developing plan that would address it. The program developed by DEQ was approved by the Environmental Quality Commission. While the goals and trajectory were not as rigorous as many of us would like, at least the CPP places the state on a trajectory of meaningful emissions reductions. Now, many participating businesses have filed lawsuits to overturn the CPP. They generated our need for rigorous action by declining to reduce their emissions when the 2007 voluntary emissions reduction program was signed into law and served on the RAC. Now they sue to terminate life on the planet as we know it. Leading the charge, of course, is the trade association, Oregon Business and Industry. Joining that perpetual opponent of climate and environmental protection are: Oregon Farm Bureau; Oregon Manufacturers & Commerce; Alliance of Western Energy Consumers; Associated Oregon Loggers; Northwest Pulp & Paper Association; Oregon Association of Nurseries; Oregon Forest & Industries Council; Oregon Trucking Associations; and Western Wood Preservers Institute. They’re joined by two private businesses, Otley Land & Cattle and Space Age Fuel. It is absolutely no surprise that legal action includes NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade Gas since gas companies have consistently promoted the lie that theirs is ’the clean fossil fuel.’ Neither are we surprised that deceitful Big Oil is joining the campaign through the Western States Petroleum Association – representing the largest polluters in the world, including Shell, Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips among other out-of-state oil companies. While these industry representatives collaborate to undermine climate action, some business organizations recognize the problem and have not joined the suit: Oregon Businesses for Climate, the Main Street Alliance of Oregon, and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility are notable among these. Oregonian consumers deserve to know which companies are committed to the end of life on the planet as we know it." Oregon Business and Industry Sues to Undermine Climate Action pdf version As it appeared in the Eugene Register Guard May 18th, 2022

  • Transition to Sustainability

    Transition Design is a trans-disciplinary approach used by Carneige Mellon University to address the many ‘wicked’ problems confronting 21st century societies: climate change, forced migration, political and social polarization, global pandemics, lack of access to affordable housing/healthcare/education and many others. These problems are interconnected, interdependent and always manifest in place and culture-specific ways. Transition Design argues that new knowledge and skill-sets are required to address these problems, and that their resolution is a strategy for igniting positive, systems-level change and societal transitions toward more sustainable, equitable and desirable long-term futures.” Service Design or Social Innovation solutions differ from Transition Design. Service design is “the activity of planning and organizing a business’s resources (people, props, and processes) in order to (1) directly improve the employee’s experience, and (2) indirectly, the customer’s experience.” “Design for Social Innovation (DSI) is really interaction design in the broadest sense; it’s interaction between people that takes responsibility for positive, systemic impact.” A Multi-Level Perspective with regard to sustainability, investigates the fundamental changes in energy, transport, housing, agro-food systems that are needed to address the problem. #Sustainability

  • Electric Vehicle Guidance

    Thinking about buying an electric vehicle to ameliorate climate change and avoid the high cost of fossil fuel? Electrek reports most electric cars are cheaper to own from day one according to a new report from Energy Innovation. Find the latest news from the Electric Vehicle Association blog or check out their Facebook page. Southern Oregon Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Association (SOHEVA) promotes the use of electric cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and bicycles from Roseburg south to Shasta in northern California. Local SOHEVA members offer guidance on buying, leasing, sustainably fueling, operating and maintaining all forms of electric transit. They participated in the Community Earth Day Celebration on April 24, 2022 as part of the nationwide Drive Electric Earth Day event. SOHEVA members Bruce Borgerson and Jim Hartman taught a 3-part class about EVs for the spring term of OLLI, concluding on April 21, 2022. Under the leadership of president Pete Jorgensen, SOHEVA is starting lobbying initiatives to address EV charger maintenance, accuracy of status indication on phone apps, universal payment access and need for pull-through stations to accommodate towing. SOHEVA meets the 3rd Monday of each month from 7-8 p.m. Memberships are $40/yr Unsure about whether EV or gas vehicles pollutes more? Watch this video.

  • Praising God Through Climate Action

    Carole Devine of Blessed Tomorrow says regarding Earth Day 2022: "For the first time since 1991, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Baha’is, Hindus, Buddhists, and Indigenous nations observed sacred celebrations in April 2022." This episode with Nana Firman, Senior Ambassador, GreenFaith and Dahlia Rockowitz, Washington Director, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action covers the importance of honoring our most holy days and celebrating Earth Day through climate action. "Climate and climate justice is the most is the ultimate social justice issue." ~ Dahlia Rockowitz

  • The Future of Water in the Rogue Valley

    Jefferson Center (Salon Series), SOCAN Ashland Climate Action Project, and Ashland Climate Collaborative are co-hosting a Zoom presentation/discussion on “The Future of Water in the Rogue Valley” on May 22, 2022 at 4 p.m. To join the Zoom event, please register in advance for this meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsf-uvqDwiG9MPlpu0dtMi6CLqN6CJaB-0 "The program will feature Julie Smitherman and Cody Scoggins from Medford Water, with Joseph Graf from the Jefferson Center." "This program will address: Where does Rogue Valley water come from? How is that water being used? What threats do we face? Discussion will focus on what citizens and government agencies, especially local ones, can do to provide water in our area and distribute it fairly." "This event is part of the Salon series at The Jefferson Center, a Rogue Valley non-profit focused on critical thinking using secular humanist values to understand and engage with issues important to our community. Co-hosts for this event are the SOCAN Ashland Climate Action Project, which works to ensure that climate action is a top priority in Ashland, and the Water Action Team of the Ashland Climate Collaborative, a hub for community collaboration on climate solutions."

  • The Wisdom of Eco-Prophet Thomas Berry

    The Shift Network is sponsoring a free online event with Matthew Fox on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 5:30 p.m. PDT: Sacred Earth, Sacred Self: Harmonize With Nature & Reconnect to the Human Community Through the Wisdom of Eco-Prophet Thomas Berry. Register free HERE "In this free online event, you’ll: Find that when you take action to save the Earth, and connect to Source, you are taking steps to save yourself and future generations Discover humanity’s most basic flaw — and its resulting consequences Explore why embodying a sense of sacredness is a vital element of human survival — emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and environmentally Discover why academic barbarism (when the left brain devours your values by overpowering the right brain) leads to the destruction of the planet by prioritizing profits over respecting the sacredness of the Earth Experience a Tai Chi breathing and movement exercise to invite you to breathe in and embody Earth consciousness The event website is HERE

  • Corvallis Interfaith Climate Justice Committee

    Corvallis Interfaith Climate Justice Committee (ICJC) is comprised of 10 area faith-based groups in Corvallis, Oregon including: First United Methodist Church Corvallis First Congregational UCC Corvallis Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis First United Methodist Church of Corvallis Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, Corvallis Corvallis Interfaith Climate Justice Committee has 35 individual members who have been communicating through Gourps.io since 2016 Corvallis ICJC) currently serves as the Steering Committee for the Corvalis Climate Offset Fund (CCOF). The CCOF is an official Community Project of the City of Corvallis Climate Action Advisory Board and the Imagine Corvallis Action Network. The Board oversees the implementation of the Corvallis Climate Action Plan. The Network provides a framework and integrates public-government relationships to establish and reach for the goals of the future. Brian C. Lee is the principal visionary and architect of the CCOF. Corvallis ICJC is a partner organization of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Corvallis Climate Action Alliance. The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition had a successful Town Hall in 2019. It has liaison with 350 Corvallis and the Eugene- Springfield Interfaith Earthkeepers.

  • Interfaith Earthkeepers

    Eugene/Springfield Interfaith Earthkeepers is a coalition of Eugene communities of faith in Eugene, Oregon who: celebrate the beauty of land, sea and sky speak up for the powerless and endangered participate in the repair and regeneration of every place activate communities of conscience to serve and keep our sacred Planet Interfaith Earthkeepers offers a website, Facebook Page, Twitter posts, monthly meetings on zoom, meeting minutes archives, news blog posts, podcasts, videos, links to related organizations, lifestyle strategies, recycling solutions, local healthy food resources, funds to offset carbon footprints and more. Representatives from member communities connect Earthkeeper work to action teams in their home faith community. Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month. The 13 member faith communities take turns hosting, Central Lutheran First United Methodist St. Mary's Episcopal Central Presbyterian Unitarian Universalist Resurrection Episcopal United Lutheran First Congregational UCC First Christian Eugene Friends Meeting Eugene Mennonite Unity of the Valley Westminster Presbyterian The Call: "The health of human communities is dependent upon the health of every interlocking piece of creation: the forests, plains and oceans and all the creatures that inhabit them. Let us go forward to live in right relationship with the whole of creation." Eugene also has an active 350Eugene.org group.

  • Taking Action Together

    Brian Ettling, in his excellent blog review of Michael E. Mann's 2021 book The New Climate War: the fight to take back our planet says: "I can’t stress this enough as a climate organizer, PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO TAKE CLIMATE ACTION." Fossil fuel companies have waged a thirty-year campaign to deflect blame and responsibility and delay action on climate change. Part of their marketing strategy has been to place inordinate emphasis on individuals making changes to their behavior rather than focusing on the producers making necessary systemic changes. "Meanwhile, they've blocked efforts to regulate or price carbon emissions, run PR campaigns aimed at discrediting viable alternatives, and have abdicated their responsibility in fixing the problem they've created." As concerned citizens we need to: Force our governments and corporations to wake up and make real change. Vote out of office those who do not support or oppose effective solutions to our climate emergency. Not allow the enormity of the challenge be so overwhelming that we don't take action Keep positive conversation going among our friends, community and institutions, stressing urgency and agency about our climate challenge Be clear about priorities and impacts of change without oversimplifying a complex situation. Tell others what they can do. Debunk the false narratives and arguments that have worked their way into the climate debate and driven a wedge between even those who support climate change solutions Inspire awe, wonder and love of nature/mother earth and responsibility to future generations Take appropriate individual actions, but not expect that they will be sufficient without systemic changes Yes, taking small, visible actions are important as they raise community awareness and conversation leading to systemic changes. An example is for faith communities in Rogue Valley to let their lawns go brown this summer in response to climate change caused drought. Brown is the New Green.

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